The interactions between the children and adults have changed in modern days. I could tell the book was written a while ago. Even so, when Jane wishes herself into another family, the rest of the siblings work hard to bring her back because family is important. They weren’t too sappy sweet, but argued as siblings will. It was amusing seeing how the kids would double their wishes so they got wanted. It also fits into that category of intrusive fantasy because everything is realistic except for that magic charm.

It is a sweet, low stress book because no one is every really in danger. The kids enjoyed it quite a bit, so maybe I’m just too old to really appreciate the book. It all works out in the end.įinal thoughts: It was an enjoyable enough story, but it just didn’t grab me. he wants to marry the children’s mother (with their blessing), but she thinks she’s going crazy because of all the magic. The best thing the charm does is bring Mr. Even knowing how the charm works, several ill-conceived wishes cause problems. They use the charm to go on a quest with Lancelot, although all doesn’t go according to plan. It takes a couple of bungled wishes (a fire in a playhouse, a mumbling cat, the mother magically getting half-way home, and a trip to a desert instead of a deserted island) before the children learn the trick of the charm – it only grants half the wish. Things change when Jane pick up a magic charm that grants wishes. Summary: The siblings Jane, Mark, Katherine, and Martha are hoping for an exciting summer, but they know it will be boring as usual. We needed a new read aloud, and the library had it as an e-book, so I wouldn’t have to worry about finishing it before it was due back. For fans of such favorite series as The Penderwicks and The Vanderbeekers.This was recommended several places, including Gretchen Rubin’s list of 81 favorite kids books, as an excellent read aloud or book for kids.

This funny and gentle classic series is an enjoyable read-aloud and also a strong choice for independent reading. What is half of twice a talking cat? Or to be half-again twice not-here? And how do you double your most heartfelt wish, the one you care about so much it has to be perfect? Wishing for two times some things is a cinch, but other doubled wishes only cause twice as much trouble. It turns out the coin grants wishes-but only by half, so that you must wish for twice as much as you want. Jane finds the coin, and because she and her siblings are having the worst, most dreadfully boring summer ever, she idly wishes something exciting would happen.Īnd something does: Her wish is granted. It all begins with a strange coin on a sun-warmed sidewalk. Book one in the series called 'truly magic in a reader's hands' by Jack Gantos, Newbery Medal winner for Dead End in Norvelt.

Half magic book